Identifying Your Topic

The first step in the research process is, of course, deciding on a topic to research. Choosing and defining a topic to research is often an ongoing process and can be one of the most difficult aspects of your research project. Here are some suggestions for defining, refining, developing and a topic. However, if you are having difficulty in identifying a topic, check the Consult page.

Once you have selected a topic to research, you are ready to proceed. You probably need to start by,

Refining or Narrowing Your Topic

A topic that is too broad or vague can be refined by focusing on some specific aspects of the topic.

Example:  History of the automobile in the United States

This topic, as stated, is much to broad; you could right an entire book on this! The topic can be limited in a number of ways, such as focusing on a specific:

• time period - Development of the automobile in the U.S. during the Roaring Twenties.
• geographic area - Introduction of the auto into large urban areas.
• specific group - The effect of the United Auto Workers union on the General Motors Corp.
• specific individual - The influence of Henry Ford and the use of the assembly line in auto production.
• specific event - The effect of the federal Interstate Highway System on auto travel.

Developing Your Topic

Having refined your topic, you are now ready to develop it further by looking at some background information. After you have done some background reading, you should have some additional ideas about how the topic can be developed.

Check here for:

• Background Information
• Consult with Experts
• Research Tree